U.S. patent application number 13/728353 was filed with the patent office on 2013-07-18 for battery pack.
This patent application is currently assigned to YAZAKI CORPORATION. The applicant listed for this patent is YAZAKI CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Yoshiaki ICHIKAWA.
Application Number | 20130181510 13/728353 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48608135 |
Filed Date | 2013-07-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130181510 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
ICHIKAWA; Yoshiaki |
July 18, 2013 |
BATTERY PACK
Abstract
A battery pack includes a main battery pack and a sub-battery
pack. Each of the main battery pack and the sub-battery pack
includes a power supply including a plurality of unit cells, a
service plug connector including shutoff terminals of the power
supply, and an output connector including output terminals of the
power supply. The output connector is in a form of a connector
capable of being mated with the service plug connector and a power
supply connector of a vehicle.
Inventors: |
ICHIKAWA; Yoshiaki;
(Kakegawa-shi, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
YAZAKI CORPORATION; |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
YAZAKI CORPORATION
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
48608135 |
Appl. No.: |
13/728353 |
Filed: |
December 27, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
307/9.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01M 2220/20 20130101;
H01M 2/206 20130101; H01M 2/1083 20130101; B60R 16/033 20130101;
Y02E 60/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
307/9.1 |
International
Class: |
B60R 16/033 20060101
B60R016/033 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 28, 2011 |
JP |
2011-287927 |
Claims
1. A battery pack connected to a power supply connector of a
vehicle, the battery pack comprising: a main battery pack
comprising: a power supply including a plurality of unit cells; a
circuit shutoff connector comprising shutoff terminals of the power
supply; and an output connector comprising output terminals of the
power supply, wherein the output connector is in a form of a
connector capable of being mated with the circuit shutoff connector
and the power supply connector.
2. The battery pack according to claim 1, further comprising: a
sub-battery pack to be added to the main battery pack, the
sub-battery pack comprising: a power supply including a plurality
of unit cells; a circuit shutoff connector comprising shutoff
terminals of the power supply; and an output connector comprising
output terminals of the power supply, wherein the output connector
of the sub-battery pack is in a form of a connector capable of
being mated with the circuit shutoff connector of the sub-battery
pack and the circuit shutoff connector of the main battery pack.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a battery pack
accommodating unit cells.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] A battery pack is installed, for example, on a vehicle. A
battery pack 50 according to a first conventional example is
illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B. The battery pack 50 according to
the first conventional example includes a power supply 52 including
unit cells 51, a service plug connector 54 including a pair of
shutoff terminals 53 of the power supply 52, a pair of output
terminals 55 of the power supply 52, and a case 56 accommodating
the power supply 52. Each of the output terminals 55 is in a form
of a terminal for tightening a bolt. The output terminals 55 are
connected to power supply terminals 70 on the vehicle side by
bolt-tightening.
[0005] A service plug grip 57 is attached to the service plug
connector 54. Detaching the service plug grip 57 can shut off the
power supply 52.
[0006] A battery pack 60 according to a second conventional example
is illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B. The battery pack 60 according to
the second conventional example includes a power supply 62
including unit cells 61, a service plug connector 64 including a
pair of output terminals 63 of the power supply 62, a pair of
output connectors 66 each including one of a pair of output
terminals 65 of the power supply 62, and a case 67 accommodating
the power supply 62. The output connectors 66 are connected to a
pair of connectors 73 each including one of a pair of power supply
terminals 72 on the vehicle side. This connecting connects the
output terminals 65 with the power supply terminals 72.
[0007] A service plug grip 68 is attached to the service plug
connector 64. Detaching the service plug grip 68 can shut off the
power supply 62.
[0008] However, according to the first and second conventional
examples, no attention is paid to adding the respective battery
packs 50, 60.
[0009] On the other hand, for coping with request for increased
battery capacity and the like, a battery module capable of adding
the battery packs is conventionally proposed (refer to JP
2008-066093 A). As illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4A and 4B, a battery
module 80 according to a third conventional example is constructed
with two types of battery packs, that is, a main battery pack 81
and sub-battery packs 90. The main battery pack 81 includes a power
supply 83 including unit cells 82, a pair of output terminals 84 of
the power supply 83, and additional terminals 85 used for adding
other battery packs to the power supply 83. The power supply 83 is
accommodated in a case 86. On both side face sides of the case 86,
there are provided recessed outer wall portions 86a. Each of
additional terminals 85 is provided on a surface of each of the
concave outer wall portions 86a.
[0010] The sub-battery pack 90 includes an additional power supply
92 including unit cells 91 and additional terminals (output
terminals) 93 of the additional power supply 92. The additional
power supply 92 is accommodated in a case 94. Protruding outer wall
portions 94a are provided on one side face side of the case 94, and
recessed outer wall portions 94b are provided on the other side
face side of the case 94, respectively. Each of additional
terminals 93 is provided at each of the protruding outer wall
portions 94a and each of the recessed outer wall portions 94b.
[0011] Mating the protruding outer wall portions 94a of the
sub-battery pack 90 with the recessed outer wall portions 86a of
the main battery pack 81, the additional terminals 85 of the main
battery pack 81 are connected to the additional terminals 93 of the
sub-battery pack 90. Further, mating the protruding outer wall
portion 94a of the other sub-battery pack 90 with the recessed
outer wall portion 94b of the sub-battery pack 90, the additional
terminals 93 of the sub-battery pack 90 is connected to the
additional terminals 93 of the other sub-battery pack 90. The above
operations can add the sub-battery packs 90 in the battery module
80.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] However, according to the third conventional example, for
adding the sub-battery packs 90 in the battery module 80, it is
necessary to mate the recessed outer wall portions 86a of the case
86 (or the recessed outer wall portions 94b of the case 94) with
the protruding outer wall portions 94a of the case 94, thus making
the adding operation of the sub-battery pack(s) 90 cumbersome.
Further, the additional terminals 85 are exposed to the recessed
outer wall portion 86a of the case 86 while the additional
terminals 93 are exposed to the recessed outer wall portion 94b or
protruding outer wall portion 94a of the case 94, thus
necessitating to pay attention not to cause a short-circuit
accident at the time of the adding operation. The same is true of
the dismounting operation of the main battery pack 81 and the
sub-battery pack 90.
[0013] The present invention has been made for solving the above
problems. It is an object of the present invention to provide a
battery pack capable of easily and safely implement the adding and
dismounting operations of the battery pack.
[0014] A battery pack according to a first aspect of the present
invention is one connected to a power supply connector of a vehicle
and includes a main battery pack including a power supply including
unit cells, a circuit shutoff connector including shutoff terminals
of the power supply, and an output connector including output
terminals of the power supply. The output connector is in a form of
a connector capable of being mated with the circuit shutoff
connector and the power supply connector.
[0015] The battery pack according to the first aspect of the
present invention may further include a sub-battery pack to be
added to the main battery pack. It is preferable that the
sub-battery pack include a power supply including unit cells, a
circuit shutoff connector including shutoff terminals of the power
supply, and an output connector including output terminals of the
power supply. It is also preferable that the output connector of
the sub-battery pack be in a form of a connector capable of being
mated with the circuit shutoff connector of the sub-battery pack
and the circuit shutoff connector of the main battery pack.
[0016] With the battery pack according to the first aspect of the
present invention, connecting and disconnecting the main battery
pack and sub-battery pack can be implemented by connecting and
disconnecting between the power supply connector of the vehicle and
the output connector and between the circuit shutoff connector and
the output connector. Thus, the operations of connecting and
disconnecting of the main battery pack and the sub-battery pack can
be easily and safely implemented.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a battery pack according to
a first conventional example and FIG. 1B is a circuit diagram of
the battery pack according to the first conventional example.
[0018] FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a battery pack according to
a second conventional example, and FIG. 2B is a circuit diagram of
the battery pack according to the second conventional example.
[0019] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a battery module before
adding sub-battery packs according to a third conventional
example.
[0020] FIG. 4A is a circuit diagram of a main battery pack of the
battery module according to the third conventional example, and
FIG. 4B is a circuit diagram of a sub-battery pack of the battery
module according to the third conventional example.
[0021] FIG. 5A is a perspective view for explaining a process of
adding a sub-battery pack to a main battery pack in a battery pack
according to an embodiment, and FIG. 5B is a circuit diagram with
the sub-battery pack added to the main battery pack according to
the embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0022] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be
explained based on drawings.
[0023] As illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B, a battery pack according
to the embodiment includes a main battery pack 1 and a sub-battery
pack 10.
[0024] The main battery pack 1 includes a power supply 3 including
unit cells 2, a service plug connector 5 as a circuit shutoff
connector including a pair of shutoff terminals 4 of the power
supply 3, an output connector 7 including a pair of output
terminals 6 of the power supply 3, and a case 8 accommodating the
power supply 3.
[0025] The power supply 3 has such a structure as having all of the
unit cells 2 connected in series.
[0026] The service plug connector 5 is disposed in a connector
opening 8a on a back face of the case 8. The service plug connector
5 includes a housing 5a receiving therein the pair of shutoff
terminals 4. When the sub-battery pack 10 is not added, a service
plug grip 9 is attached to the service plug connector 5. The
service plug grip 9 includes a pair of short-circuit terminals (not
illustrated) conducting with each other. When the service plug grip
9 is attached, the pair of shutoff terminals 4 get conducting with
each other via the pair of short-circuit terminals, thus bringing
the power supply 3 into a closed state. When the service plug grip
9 is not attached, the pair of shutoff terminals 4 get
non-conducting with each other, thus shutting off the power supply
3.
[0027] The pair of output terminals 6 are voltage output terminals
of the power supply 3. The output connector 7 is disposed at a
recessed portion 8b on a front face of the case 8. The output
connector 7 includes a housing 7a accommodating therein the pair of
output terminals 6. The output connector 7 is in a form of a
connector capable of being mated with the service plug connector 5.
The output connector 7 is connected to a power supply connector 31
including power supply terminals 30 of the vehicle. That is, the
power supply connector 31 of the vehicle has the same structure as
that of the service plug connector 5. The power supply terminals 30
of the vehicle are connected to an inverter circuit.
[0028] The sub-battery pack 10 includes a power supply 13 including
unit cells 12, a service plug connector 15 as a circuit shutoff
connector including a pair of shutoff terminals 14 of the power
supply 13, an additional connector 17 as an output connector
including additional terminals 16 which are a pair of output
terminals of the power supply 13, and a case 18 accommodating the
power supply 13.
[0029] The power supply 13 has such a structure as having all of
the unit cells 12 connected in series.
[0030] The service plug connector 15 is disposed in a connector
opening 18a on a back face of the case 18. The service plug
connector 15 includes a pair of shutoff terminals 14 and a housing
15a accommodating therein the pair of shutoff terminals 14. When no
other sub-battery pack is to be added, a service plug grip 19 is
attached to the service plug connector 15. The service plug grip 19
includes a pair of short-circuit terminals 19a conducting with each
other. When the service plug grip 19 is attached, the pair of
shutoff terminals 14 get conducting with each other via the pair of
short-circuit terminals 19a, thus bringing the circuit into a
closed state. When the service plug grip 19 is not attached, the
pair of shutoff terminals 14 get non-conducting with each other,
thus shutting off the power supply 13.
[0031] The additional connector 17 is disposed on the front face
side of the case 18. The additional connector 17 includes a pair of
additional terminals 16 and a housing 17a accommodating therein the
pair of additional terminals 16. The additional connector 17 is in
a form of a connector capable of being mated with each of the
service plug connector 5 of the main battery pack 1 and the service
plug connector 15 of the sub-battery pack 10. That is, the service
plug connector 5 and output connector 7 of the main battery pack 1,
the service plug connector 15 and additional connector 17 of the
sub-battery pack 10, and the power supply connector 31 of the
vehicle are unified in terms of connector standard.
[0032] Next, operations associated with connecting the main battery
pack 1 to the vehicle side and adding the sub-battery pack(s) 10
will be explained. The output connector 7 of the main battery pack
1 is mated with the power supply connector 31 of the vehicle. This
operation completes connecting of the main battery pack 1.
[0033] When the sub-battery pack 10 is to be added, the service
plug grip 9 of the main battery pack 1 is detached. Next, the
additional connector 17 of the sub-battery pack 10 is mated with
the service plug connector 5 of the main battery pack 1. When the
service plug grip 19 is not attached to the service plug connector
15 of the main battery pack 1, the service plug grip 9 detached
from the main battery pack 1 is attached to the service plug
connector 15 of the sub-battery pack 10. The above operations
complete adding of one sub-battery pack 10. For further addition of
the sub-battery pack(s) 10, the above adding operations should be
repeated.
[0034] Further, dismounting of the sub-battery pack 10 and the main
battery pack 1 can be realized by performing the above-described
operation in reverse order.
[0035] As explained above, the main battery pack 1 (sub-battery
pack 10) includes the service plug connector 5 (15) including the
pair of shutoff terminals 4 (14) of the power supply 3 (13) and the
output connector 7 (additional connector 17) including the pair of
output terminals 6 (additional terminals 16) of the power supply 3
(13), and the output connector 7 (additional connector 17) is in a
form of a connector capable of being mated with the service plug
connector 5 (15).
[0036] As explained above, the battery pack according to the
embodiment is connected to the power supply connector 31 of the
vehicle and includes the main battery pack 1 including: the power
supply 3 including the unit cells 2; the circuit shutoff connector
(service plug connector) 5 including the pair of shutoff terminals
4 of the power supply 3; and the output connector 7 including the
pair of output terminals 6 of the power supply 3. The output
connector 6 is in a form of a connector capable of being mated with
the service plug connector 5 and the power supply connector 31.
[0037] Thus, connecting and disconnecting of the main battery pack
1 can be implemented by connecting and disconnecting between the
power supply connector 31 of the vehicle and the output connector
7. As described above, the connecting and disconnecting of the main
battery pack 1 are implemented by connecting and disconnecting the
connectors, thus enabling to easily and safely implement the
connecting and disconnecting of the main battery pack 1.
[0038] Further, the battery pack according to the embodiment
includes the sub-battery pack 10 to be added to the main battery
pack 1. The sub-battery pack 10 includes the power supply 13
including the plurality of unit cells 12, the circuit shutoff
connector (service plug connector) 15 including the pair of shutoff
terminals 14 of the power supply 13, and the output connector
(additional connector) 17 including the pair of output terminals
(additional terminals) 16 of the power supply 13. The additional
connector 17 of the sub-battery pack 10 is in a form of a connector
capable of being mated with the service plug connector 15 of the
sub-battery pack 10 and the circuit shutoff connector 5 of the main
battery pack 1.
[0039] Specifically, the power supply connector 31 of the vehicle,
the service plug connector 5 of the main battery pack 1 and the
service plug connector 15 of the sub-battery pack 10 are in a form
of a connector having the same structure (for example, a female
connector housing), the output connector 7 of the main battery pack
1 and the additional connector 17 of the sub-battery pack 10 are in
a form of a connector having the same structure (for example, a
male terminal), and the female connector and the male connector
capable of being mated with each other have the same standard.
Thus, the connectors used for connecting the power supply system of
the vehicle have one male-female type of the same standard, thus
enabling to easily connect and disconnect the main battery pack 1
and the sub-battery pack 10 which have different capacities.
* * * * *